Promoting the parish for the benefit of residents

Newsletter December 2016

As the festive season approaches the East Woodhay Society Committee would like to wish all its members a Very Happy Christmas and A Good New Year.

East Woodhay Society Events

Friday 16th & 30th December and 6th & 20th January – Walking for Health starting at the Woolton Hill Church Hall & Friday9th & 23rd December and 13th & 27th January starting at the Rampant Cat

The walks last about an hour and are at a gentle pace. Please wear clothes and shoes suitable for walking in the weather. There is no need to book, just turn up on the day and register. All walks, which are free, start at 10.30am, but if you are coming for the first time please arrive at 10.20am to register. We also cater for slower walkers by having a shorter walk at a slower pace. Afterwards at the WHCH stay for a cup of tea or coffee and a chat.

Tuesday 27th December – Village Christmas Walk

On the 27th December the Society together with the Highclere Society and Los Jubilados are organising the Annual Village Christmas Walk. Meet at the Red House in Highclere at 10.30am. All ages welcome. No need to book, just turn up on the day. Bring your family and friends. Walk in aid of the Ark Cancer Charity to provide a state of the art cancer treatment centre in Basingstoke. Free mulled wine and hot mince pies en route

Saturday 14th January – Quiz Night

On the 14th January, we shall be holding our annual curry and quiz night at the Rampant Cat. As the numbers are limited this event normally sells out very quickly. Please arrive from 7.00pm for a prompt start at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12.50 and are available from Bill Vince on 255478 & John Angle on 253889, alternatively send an email to eastwoodhaysociety@wooltonhill.com. The ticket price includes the event and a selection of curries.

Other Events & News

Newtown Road Waste Centre Access for North West Hampshire Residents

The latest update, hot off the press.

Dear Resident,

You will know that I have been pushing for a resolution to this issue and I am pleased to be able to send you, below, the official announcement from Hampshire County Council, issued yesterday. [ 6th December]

All I would add is that I believe that all of the parishes of East Woodhay, Highclere, Burghclere, Newtown and Ecchinswell Sydmonton & Bishops Green are to receive permits, and parts or all of Kingsclere. I do not have access to the list drawn up by Basingstoke and Deane but the above parishes satisfy the ‘more than ten miles from Andover or Basingstoke’ criterion for receiving passes.

The passes are due to be sent out from 20thDecember, so will be subject to Christmas postal delay, no doubt.

The cost will be borne by the wider Hampshire Tax Payer.

I would be grateful if you could help by disseminating this widely; I believe also that an article with this news will appear in tomorrow’s Newbury Weekly News.

Regards

Tom ThackerCounty Councillor, Whitchurch And Clere DivisionHampshire County Council

North Hampshire residents closest to West Berkshire due to receive tip permits

Hampshire residents living close to the West Berkshire border and more than 10 miles away from a Hampshire household waste recycling centre (HWRC) will receive a permit to allow them to use West Berkshire Council’s HWRC at Newtown Road.

The move comes after West Berkshire Council introduced a permit scheme for West Berkshire residents to use the HWRC. Following discussions with neighbouring Hampshire County Council, an agreement was reached whereby residents who live furthest away from a Hampshire site would be issued with permits to access the West Berkshire site at Newtown Road for a 12 month period.

Councillor Rob Humby, Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Hampshire County Council, said: “I’m pleased we’ve come to an agreement on a transitional arrangement for those residents living furthest away from a Hampshire site, and grateful to our colleagues at West Berkshire for working with us on this. Colleagues at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council have helped us identify the addresses of people living furthest from a Hampshire HWRC, and we will be sending special Hampshire permits to these households to use from 20 December 2016.

Christmas Festivities at the Red House with Highclere Village Carol Singers and East Woodhay Silver Band (see below)

Saturday 17th December – Silver Band Christmas Concert

The East Woodhay Silver Band Concert will take place at East Woodhay Village Hall at 7.00pm. If you would like a small group to play carols at the concert please contact June Powell on 254114. Tickets £5 with under 8’s free.

Tuesday 20th December – Arbor Flora

Joseph Norton will be giving a demonstration on the theme of “Deck The Halls” at 2pm at Highclere Village Hall. For further details please call Ros on 254790.

Saturday 31st December – Red House Highclere

New Year’s Eve party8 – late, ticket required from the Red House.

Highclere Film Club – Highclere Village Hall

Doors Open 7:30pm with the film at 8:00pm

Thursday 5th January – Love and Friendship

The Film Club opens 2017 with Love and Friendship(USA, U, 92mins) directed by Whit Stillman. Based on Jane Austin’s novella ‘Lady Susan’ and set in the 1790s, this film centres on beautiful widow Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale), who has come to the estate of her in-laws to wait out colourful rumours about her dalliances circulating through polite society. Whilst there, she decides to secure a husband for herself and her rather reluctant debutante daughter, Frederica.

Thursday 19th January – Suffragette

The Film Club continues with Suffragette(UK, 12A, 106mins) directed by Sarah Gavron. This drama tracks the story of the ordinary members of the early feminist movement, women who were forced underground to pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an increasingly brutal government. These were working women who had seen peaceful protest achieve nothing. Turning to violence as the only route to change, they were willing to lose everything in their fight for equality. Maud (Carey Mulligan) and Violet (Anne-Marie Duff) were two of these women and the story of their fight for dignity is as gripping as any thriller.

Tuesday 17th January – Arbor Flora

Kate Thomas our demonstrator will show her arrangements on the theme of “This and That” at 2pm at Highclere Village Hall. For further details please call Ros on 254790. Guests are welcome.

Recent Planning Applications within the East Woodhay Parish

None issued since the last newsletter.

Footpaths

Footpath Workshop Hampshire County Council Access Teams are running sessions in our area and need our help to recruit eyes and ears on the ground to help manage our local path network. Do you want to learn more about managing Rights of Way? Do you want to know who is responsible for different aspects of the network? The initial workshop will provide individuals and communities with an understanding of how the Rights of Way network is managed. With further opportunities to become a Hampshire County Council Path Warden, where you will receive resources and training in the following: – Path inspections – Waymarking – Vegetation clearance If you are interested, please either send an email to eastwoodhaysociety@wooltonhill.com or Emma.Broadbent@hants.gov.uk. The training will take place between January and April 2017 with venues to be confirmed. Emma can also be contacted on either 01256 347075 or 07703 451824.

East Woodhay Society

If you are not a member but are interested in joining the society please print off a copy of the form on our website www.wooltonhill.com/ews_news and send an email to eastwoodhaysociety@wooltonhill.com. If you would like to respond to any of the items above please use the above email address.

Police Report

Drivers using motorway services stations, particularly those along the M4 in Berkshire, are being warned that thieves could be using technology to prevent people locking their vehicles and then steal from them.

Thames Valley Police officers are warning people to make a manual check that doors are locked before leaving their vehicles.This advice follows a spate of 14 thefts from vehicles at motorway services in Berkshire. In many of the cases there was no obvious sign of a break in and no damage was caused to the vehicles as items were stolen from them.Officers are also appealing for anyone who visited the services during the dates outlined below and have any dashcam footage to please get in touch as they may have vital information for the investigations.At Chieveley Moto Services on M4 at junction 13 between 24 November and 1 December two vans, two lorries and a Mercedes car were entered and items including tools, a suitcase and laptop were taken.At Reading Moto Services M4 junctions 11-12 between 26 November and 28 November two Range Rovers, a Jaguar, a Mercedes and a Fiat 500 were all accessed by unknown means, ie no obvious sign of a break-in, and various pieces of luggage were stolen from the vehicles.At Membury Welcome Break M4 at junctions 14 -15 between 24 November and 26 November two Land Rovers, a Mercedes and a Renault were accessed by unknown means. Luggage, wallets and cash were stolen.Investigating officer, Sgt Alan Hawkett of Newbury Police Station said: “I strongly recommend that any members of the public visiting motorway services stations anywhere in the country keep all valuable items in their possession when away from their vehicle. Offenders may be using technology to prevent your vehicle from locking therefore we would advise a manual check of the doors before leaving your vehicle.“I am appealing to the public who use in car dash cameras who may have been at any of the above service stations on the above dates and times to contact me. You may have captured an offence or offender on camera. I am extremely keen to review the footage.”Anyone with any information or dashcam footage relevant to these incidents is asked to call 101 using ref 409 27/11/2016 or email alan.hawkett@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

Police Update for Ashmansworth, East Woodhay, Highclere, Burghclere, Newtown, Litchfield, Ecchinswell & Sydmonton and St Mary Bourne & Stoke. In the month of November there were 11 incidents which have been classified as crimes by the home office.

Burglaries (3)

We have had no dwelling burglary and 3 non-dwelling burglaries reported this month. Let’s ensure we keep our property well secured especially as the festive season is now upon us!

After last month’s influx of thefts particularly from vehicles I’m very pleased to report that none have been made this month.

Assaults (2)

–St Mary Bourne, a verbal altercation took place between 2 people, 1 pushed the other causing damage to their property and prompted them to punch the other in the face. Neither party wished to make a complaint.

–Burghclere School, a male driver became verbally aggressive towards 2 other female drivers for no apparent reason. Driver to be spoken to by Police.

ASB (2)

–Bishops Green, resident made a complaint accusing another resident of aiming fireworks directly at their house. Words of advice given.

–Ecchinswell Village Hall, resident reported suspicious goings on in the car park relating to possible drug dealing. High visibility patrols have been carried out and this vehicle has been found abandoned in a nearby village.

Domestic Disputes (3)

–Bishops Green, person has been receiving unwanted text messages from their ex-partner. Words of advice given.

–Penwood, couple have had a verbal only altercation whilst under the influence of alcohol. One of them said they were going to leave by car, Police were notified but this person had never left. No offences.

–Bishops Green, individual reported a verbal only domestic no complaints made to Police.

Summary

We have had quite a number of suspicious vehicles reported to us this month by members of the public. This information has proved very useful to us an allowed us to set up operations in certain areas and target these vehicles. On behalf of myself and my colleagues I’d like to thank you for the support, it’s invaluable. Please keep this information coming.

Finally, I’d just like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!!!

Please report any suspicious people, vehicles or activity to the Police via 101 or to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Please call 101 if you see or hear any form of anti-social behaviour in your area. If you feel you are in immediate danger, always call 999.

If you would like to get in touch please use the email address below. Please DO NOT report crimes via email.